Keep a watchful eye on your home with our buying guide and reviews of the best home security cameras from £79
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a single-room flat or a country estate: everyone wants to know their home is safe and sound whilst they’re away. It could be to watch out for potential intruders, or just to keep tabs on that party your teenage children aren’t meant to be having. Whatever it is, knowing what’s going on in your house is great peace of mind for everyone. Here you’ll find our pick of the best home security cameras IP cameras, along with a quick guide to help you decide which one is right for you.
Unlike IP cameras designed for businesses and warehouses, home devices are usually much smaller, and often have mobile apps that let you keep tabs on home whenever and wherever you have an internet connection. They can feed back live video of your home wherever you are, capture video recordings when they detect movement, and even let you talk to people in your home – whether they’re meant to be there or not.
In this round-up, we’re going to guide you through what things you need to consider, explain some of the features to look out for and reveal our pick of the five best IP cameras available right now.
Best home security cameras: Editor’s picks
If you want a security camera that’s flexible enough to put anywhere in your home, gives you great image quality and comes with a whole range of impressive features, then Netgear’s Arlo is a brilliant package.
If that’s a little out of your budget, then the catchily-titled PowerLead Csaf PL-S366 is a more traditional, basic IP camera for £80. It’s a solid all-rounder if you don’t mind forgoing the fine image quality and snazzy, compact design of the Arlo above.
How to buy the best home security camera for you
What is an IP camera?
An IP camera is simply a device which can transmit video data via any internet or data connection. This means you can use them to live stream whatever they’re seeing via a laptop, smartphone or pretty much any other internet-connected device with a browser, and even if you’re on the other side of the globe. There’s no complicated installation process or expensive wiring costs like there would be with a CCTV camera.
Where do you want to place your camera?
There are two limitations when it comes to where you want to place your indoor security camera. The first thing to consider is whether the camera’s power runs off the mains. All of them on this list do – apart from the NetGear Arlo – so you’ll either need a plug nearby or have to wrangle with some extension cables. The other consideration is what field of view the camera’s lens has – this is expressed in degrees, and the higher the number the larger an area the camera can effectively ‘see’. Before reaching for the drill, make sure to find the best position for the camera you’re installing; you want it to see as much of the intended area as possible.
How is the video stored?
Most of the cameras on this list provide cloud storage options so that you don’t have to rely on storing the video on a memory card, or on a local computer. You’ll generally get a variable amount of free storage bundled as part of the package, but will then have to pay a monthly subscription charge for extra space. Most devices only record video when they detect movement, or body heat if they have infra-red sensing, but some such as the Nest Cam, record constantly – as you can imagine, days and days of video takes up a lot of storage space. Others use an in-built microSD card or allow you to send footage to a network-attached storage drive. You shouldn’t rely on locally-stored footage, however, as a savvy thief could just physically remove the camera or the microSD card, or steal your NAS drive.
What type of resolution do you want from your camera?
The cameras here have sensors which range from 720p to 1080p resolution. As you’d expect, a higher number normally results in clearer, crisper images. Not all lenses are made equal though, of course, and some cameras give the option to use a less aggressive video compression to maximise image quality. As higher quality video takes up more storage space, it’s about finding a happy compromise. Clearly the better the image the easier it’s going to be to make out the faces of any intruders or see what the kids are up to while you’re gone.
What other features should I look out for?
If you want usable video footage day or night, then look for cameras which have a Night Vision mode. And if you want to be able to communicate through the camera, then think about one with in-built microphone and speaker functions.
Best home security cameras to buy
1. Netgear Arlo: The best overall indoor security camera
Price when reviewed: £190
Netgear’s weatherproof Arlo is one of the most flexible security cameras you can buy. The wireless, battery-powered design makes it easy to position discreetly, and it’s small enough to hide away easily, too – the magnetic base for sticking on to metal surfaces is a masterstroke. The 130-degree field of view is impressively wide, and the 720p image resolution delivers great image quality. The camera automatically turns on when it detects motion and the batteries should last up to six months. If there’s a downside to the completely wireless approach it’s the need for a base station to upload your footage on to the cloud – but we think this is a small price to pay for such a brilliant home security network.
Key specs – Camera Size: 7.2cm x 4.4cm x 6.6cm; Weight: 123g; Field of View: 110 degrees; Video resolution: 1280 x 720; Night Vision: Up to 8m; Motion Detection: Yes (with adjustable sensitivity)
2. Nest Cam: The best for live streaming
Price when reviewed: £149
The Nest Cam is a sleek and easy to use indoor security camera – we gave it four stars when we reviewed it. Setup is done completely through the iOS and Android apps, and the 1080p sensor provides great image quality. You get 24/7 live streaming via your smartphone or tablet, and the integrated speaker and microphone are a welcome addition. The only downside? If you want to save footage, or take advantage of the advanced features such as face-detection and motion sensing, you have to shell out for a yearly subscription. These start at £80/year for 10 days of retention, and go up to £240/year for 30 days of retention. Without a subscription, you’re limited to viewing live feeds, which is stingy. If you can live with that, though, then this is a slick, easy to use home security option.
Key specs – Camera Size: 16.8cm x 16.8cm x 10.9cm; Weight: 762kg; Field of View: 130 degrees; Video Resolution: 1280 x 1080; Night Vision: Up to 6m; Motion Detection; Microphone & Speaker
3. Canary All-in-One: A home security camera that also monitors air quality
Price when reviewed: £144
Canary’s All-in-One is a feature-packed home security camera. The 1080p sensor is partnered with a wide-angle lens that provides a generous 147 degree field of view as well as night vision capabilities, and image quality is very good, too. As its name suggests, the Canary also relays air quality reports, monitoring the amount of carbon monoxide and cigarette smoke it detects. The easy-to-use smartphone app makes setup an absolute doddle, and the alarm function automatically recognises when you’ve left the house with your phone and enters ‘Armed’ mode – if it detects motion or smoke it starts recording video and sends a notification. With just a press of a button you can ward off any intruders by setting off its 90 decibel alarm. The fly in the ointment here is the extra subscription costs for storage: the free option only saves the last 12 hours of footage; two days of video storage costs £8 per month; and 30 days of video storage costs an additional £25 per month.
Key specs – Camera Size: 7.6cm x 7.6cm x 15.2cm; Weight: 1kg; Field of View: 147 degrees; Video Resolution: 1280 x 1080; Night Vision: Distance not specified; Motion Detection; Microphone & Speaker
4. Y-Cam Evo: Compact, effective, and cloud storage options are cheap
Price when reviewed: £129
Don’t let the size of this indoor security camera from Y-Cam fool you. It may be able to fit into the palm of your hand, but it still offers all the features of its bigger rivals. There’s a 720p camera as well as an infrared LED for night time viewing. The 100-degree field of view should be able to capture the whole room if it’s nestled away in a corner, but you will have to make sure a mains supply isn;t too far away (or find a suitable extension cable) as it’s powered via a micro-USB cable. The image quality may not be quite as good as the Nest Cam or Arlo, but where this really comes into its own is that it comes with 7-days of unlimited video storage for free. You can upgrade to 30 days of retention for £3.99 per month, but for many people the free allocation may be enough.
Key specs – Camera Size: 0.5cm x 0.3cm x 0.5cm; Weight: 96g; Field of View: 100 degrees; Video Resolution: 1280 x 720; Night Vision: Up to 8m; Motion Detection; Microphone & Speaker
Nest Cam IQ
Price when reviewed: £299
This high-performance gadget from Google’s Nest smart-home division stands out for its unparalleled facial recognition, capturing 1080p video at 30 frames per second. The camera can decipher unfamiliar faces, alerting the user and asking whether the person is known to them or not. The device operates similarly to the regular indoor Nest Cam, and can be aligned with entire line of Nest products via the Nest app. In addition, the camera lens at the front comes equipped with a pair of infrared LEDs for night vision, as well as a status LED and LED status ring surrounding the front of the device. Belying the Nest Cam IQ’s excellent features and performance is the fact that it’s incredibly easy to set up, making it an attractive choice for personal, rather than commercial users. There’s one caveat: the price. At £299 it’s an expensive purchase, definitely veering towards the top end of the market. This is compounded by the fact that, once your 30-day free trial elapses, you’ll find yourself amassing running costs of £388 per year. A standout product, but not for those with dwindling bank accounts.
Key specs – Camera size: 7.4 x 12.4 7.4cm; Weight: 360g; Field of View: 130 degrees; Video Resolution: 1280 x 1080; Night Vision: Yes; Motion Detection; Microphone and Speaker
PowerLead Csaf PL-S366: The best budget home security camera
Price when reviewed: £79
For just under £80 you can get this all-purpose security camera from PowerLead. Its 720p HD sensor has a night-vision mode which automatically enables in night-time conditions, and the motion detection alarm sends alerts straight to your smartphone. Video footage is stored on an internal microSD card, but you can view and screenshot the feed using the mobile app. One big bonus is that the motorised mount allows you to remotely swivel the camera around 320 degrees, and tilt it up and down, too. There’s a two-way audio system which allows for voice communication and a 12 month warranty for some extra peace of mind. One final niggle is that the short 75cm power cable limits where you can place it, but for the money this is a good basic option.
Key specs – Camera Size: 13.2cm x 11.9cm x 11.4cm; Weight: 950g; Field of View: 55 degrees; Video Resolution: 1280 x 720; Night Vision: Up to 10m; Motion Detection; Microphone & Speaker
Sоurсе: expertreviews.co.uk
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